Getting through Rome Airport, Oct 2021

 Getting through Rome Airport, Oct 2021

Step 1: Show your vaccination record to enter.

Step 2: Show vaccination record, Negative COVID test and passport to gate agent.

Step 3: Have your bags x-rayed and show your boarding pass.

Ride the train out to the complex of international gates.

Walk towards gate for Step 4: Enter your picture in Passport scanner.

Step 5: Have your photo taken.

Step 6: Have passport checked again and stamped.

At gate, Step 7: Before boarding have passport checked again.

 

Hmm, to get your boarding pass, you had to show your passport. Why all the passport checks?  You got me.

Now, can you see why we chose to drive to Charleston, SC and Eau Claire, WI? More on those trips later.

Meet Sandro

 One of my most long term connections in Italy is Dr. Sandro B of the Univ. of Bologna. He studied first in Italy and finished his work in the USA at the Univ. of Central Florida. I wrote a recommendation letter for Sandro for his current position at UniBo.

Every time I am in Bologna, Italy, Dr. B sets me up with a talk at the Univ. This time I spoke to two profs and a group of Ph.D. students about our advice for exercise and wellness for people over 50 years of age, a topic he derived from our book, Fit Over 50.

Sandro had the brilliant idea of taking me, Baldwin and Haswell up on the top of San Luca. This is a small mountain right in Bologna. Here is one view from there:

Yes, those are the Italian Alps and that is snow. It was shirtsleeve weather where we were--yet there is snow. It was a beautiful place.

We then had one of the best meals of my life. I don't take many photos of food, but here is one.

Yes, this is Atlantic salmon, and it briefly held the title of the best food I have ever eaten in a restaurant.

Finally, after these treats, we made it to the Uni. Like all my experiences in Italy the audience of Ph.D. students were from around the globe.

Thanks be to G^d for these wonderful opportunities.

Meet Clarissa, and some other Great Folk

 You probably don’t recall my writing about a young student named Flavia. I called her name during a talk I gave a Univ. of Florence in 2019. When I did, she lit up like it was her birthday. This 2021 trip G^d blessed me with another great experience with an undergraduate student, Clarissa.

Clarissa attended my talk at the coffee shop near the Univ. of Florence campus. We were not allowed to gather students on campus due to COVID restrictions. I spoke on managing yourself. Clarissa is a senior at U of Florence majoring in psychology with a goal of helping others. When I called her name, she smiled, rather beamed, and I noted it. So, once again I called her name frequently.

During the question & answer she was engaged and our time there was delightful. Two of the Agape Italia interns there were friends of one of our visiting team, so once again, it's a small world.

The Guy in this photo is my all-time favorite translator, Haswell Beni. He is from Malawi and lives in Florence. He translated for me in the Uni of Florence in 2019, and I was thrilled to have him with us again.

The two young ladies from Texas and Clarissa next to Brenda.

We LOVE getting to meet young people and getting to teach them a little harkens me back to those wonderful years as a Uni. professor.

Thank you L^rd!

Meet Brandon, Courtney, Remi, Leo and Stella

 This beautiful young family represents the hope and the challenges of foreign mission work. They packed up the family and their possessions and moved from Ohio to Roma, Italy. Their little boy, Remi, was an infant. Leo was born in Italy as was Stella who was only 3 weeks old when we took this photo.

For a good part of the last 19 months they were confined to their apartment--only able to walk the dog outside. Imagine what that might have been like with two young energetic boys.

In the midst of COVID and normal life challenges they are still engaged in Christian ministry. Here's an example. The day it was posted, we ran across it on a telephone pole just outside the huge University, La Sapienza, in which no one but staff and students are currently allowed. The handbill is advertising a free "Guide to your new University Life". The Agape Italia staff are creative, hard working, and persistent.

The Italians are a hard group to whom to minister. Please lift them up--and this family is just the represent of almost a dozen more.

Pray.

Meeting w Giosue

 One of the neat things I got to do in Roma, IT was meet with a very bright Christian Student at Foro Italico University who is pursuing a therapy degree. Giosue (Joshua) was one of only 28 total students admitted to the program. Yes, he is just that smart.

Giosue was an at conversationalist. Baldwin had asked me to meet with him just a couple of hours before I was scheduled to speak to the Medical Students. Baldwin and I expected that we would only need a half hour or a bit more to chat. After and hour and a half we had to start wrapping up so I could get back downtown. Giosue courteously volunteered to drive me back so I wouldn't be late.

I write this so that we all may rejoice together. G^d is raising up a terrific young Christian in Italy--a place where Christians are not all that common. Giosue is a handsome, capable young man who will use his giftings for the good of G^d's kingdom.

Rejoice with me!

Mosaic Roma Meeting

Brenda and I had a chance to meet with some folks from...FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, Roma, Italy! What, you didn't know of that congregation--hey it is our Baptist friends, what did you expect?

On my last visit to Roma in 2019, I got to speak to an audience at First Baptist church there after lunch. This trip, I got to speak to their young professionals group in the home of the group leader, Dennis. The group is called "Mosaic" and that is a wonderful name. Many nationalities are represented in that group.

Brandon, who had set up the meeting had told me I should give a talk on "Getting Better Grades". As we began to chat with attendees we learned that ALL but one of them had already graduated, and the one still in university was at the very end of her studies.

Well, with foreign mission trips, as Josh Jones used to say, "Things will change, and then they will change again." So, on the spot I made the call to change to talk to, "What are practical ways for professionals to be salt and light in the workplace."

I made it interactive and the group quickly chimed in. We came with many ways to witness for the Christ in everyday life. Carrying a Bible with you, offering to pray, asking folks how they REALLY are, were just a few of the ideas that developed easily.

It was probably one of my all-time favorite meetings. Those people are young, wonderful committed sisters and brothers in Christ. We should enjoy each other and we did. 

Dennis and his aunt served us a delightful meal and the time together was precious. 

Thanks be to G^d!

Medical Students in Roma

 We had the opportunity to speak to some medical students (Future Nurses and Docs) at Il Ponte in Roma. Thurs Evening 30 Sept. We had students from:

Brazil (3 students)

Italy (1 student, ironic eh?)

Iran (1 student)

Syria (1 student)

USA (1 student)

Agape (Cru) Italian Staff from USA (3)

I quickly learned everyone's names, and called their names as I spoke about the importance of good, clear, accurate communications. Their response was gratifying. They were extremely attentive, and I felt a good connection. They seemed to "Get it" that I loved them and wanted to help them.

Some of their comments afterwards were particularly gratifying.

I hope we can do this talk again one of these days. I also hope that some of them will be more effective communicators in their future.

Casa Dolce, Roma, IT

 Our first 4 days in Roma were spent at the Casa Dolce, in Roma, near the huge University La Sapienza. Brenda and I both recognized the street and the small park in front of our AirBnB, Casa Dolce (home sweet).

When we arrive at Casa Dolce, we have been 3 hours in the airport in BHM, over a half hour in flt to Atlanta, 1.5 hours in ATL, 9 hours in the air and 1 hour traveling only 20 miles through HEAVY Tuesday morning Rome traffic. We are tired and unsure of exactly how to reach our host to get through the heavy locked door of our building.  We ask around and locate Fabio F, who also runs a restaurant.

Fabio was very kind to let us in to his AirBnb and show us around. He speaks NO English and we no Italian, and my limited Spanish was of little help. We got it all done and booked an additional bed for our friend who will join us for the last two nights.

We visited his restaurant for dinner and it was superb.

More on Roma next post.